U.S. patent application number 11/689348 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-07 for movable building and building foundation.
Invention is credited to Matthew Priddy, James Rhodes.
Application Number | 20080184640 11/689348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39674783 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080184640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rhodes; James ; et
al. |
August 7, 2008 |
MOVABLE BUILDING AND BUILDING FOUNDATION
Abstract
A building foundation includes a molded structure being formed
from a first substance and a second substance formed within the
molded structure. The second substance displaces a predetermined
volume of the first substance and is lighter than the first
substance. The building foundation also includes a device for
coupling the molded structure to a movable building in a factory.
The building foundation is further adapted to be transported to a
building site.
Inventors: |
Rhodes; James; (Las Vegas,
NV) ; Priddy; Matthew; (Las Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BELL, BOYD, & LLOYD LLP
P.O. BOX 1135
CHICAGO
IL
60690
US
|
Family ID: |
39674783 |
Appl. No.: |
11/689348 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60887696 |
Feb 1, 2007 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/293.3 ;
52/294 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/0875 20130101;
G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q 10/0631 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/293.3 ;
52/294 |
International
Class: |
E02D 27/00 20060101
E02D027/00 |
Claims
1. A building foundation, comprising: a molded structure being
formed from a first substance; a second substance formed within
said molded structure, displacing a predetermined volume of said
first substance and being lighter than said first substance; and a
means for coupling said molded structure to a movable building in a
factory; wherein said building foundation is adapted to be
transported to a building site.
2. The building foundation according to claim 1, wherein said
molded structure is formed from a substantially homogeneous
substance.
3. The building foundation according to claim 2, wherein said
substantially homogeneous substance is formed from at least one of:
concrete, concrete composite, steel, or polymer.
4. The building foundation according to claim 1, wherein said
second substance is selected from at least one of: a polymer, gas,
metal, or wood.
5. The building foundation according to claim 1, wherein said
predetermined volume is between about 1% and about 50% of the
volume of said first substance.
6. The building foundation according to claim 1, wherein said
second substance forms a second structure selected from the group
consisting of a cylinder, sphere, cone, or polyhedron.
7. The building foundation according to claim 6, wherein said
second structure has a longitudinal axis and at least one surface,
wherein said longitudinal axis extends along the horizontal or
vertical plane of said molded structure.
8. The building foundation according to claim 7, wherein said
second structure extends from a first end of said molded structure
to a second end of said molded structure.
9. The building foundation according to claim 1, wherein said
second substance defines a substantially hollow structure.
10. The building foundation according to claim 9, further
comprising a coupling means for coupling said building foundation
to a transport vehicle.
11. The building foundation according to claim 1, wherein said
second substance defines a substantially solid structure.
12. A method of moving a preformed building and foundation
comprising the steps of: forming a mold having at least one spacer
material therein; pouring a first substance into said mold to form
a molded structure; curing said molded structure; attaching said
molded structure to at least one preformed building; moving said
attached molded structure and said preformed building to a
predetermined building site; installing said attached molded
structure and said preformed building on said predetermined
building site.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said first substance
is formed from at least one of: concrete, concrete composite,
steel, or polymer.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said spacer material
is between about 1% and about 50% of the volume of said first
substance.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said spacer material
includes at least one of the following: polymer, gas, metal, or
wood.
16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said spacer material
is formed into at least one predetermined structure.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said spacer material
is substantially hollow.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of
attaching said molded structure and preformed building to a
transport vehicle using an attachment means.
19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said spacer material
is substantially solid.
20. A method of moving a building comprising the steps of: forming
a mold having at least one spacer material therein; pouring a first
substance into said mold to form a molded structure; curing said
molded structure; constructing at least one portion of a building
on said molded structure in a factory; moving said attached molded
structure and said building to a predetermined building site;
installing said attached molded structure and said building on said
predetermined building site.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. Nos. 11/431,196 entitled "BUILDING TRANSPORT
DEVICE" and filed on May 9, 2006; Ser. No. 11/620,103 entitled
"DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING A LOAD" and filed on Jan. 5,
2007; 11/559,229 entitled "TRANSPORT DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTMENT
TO MAINTAIN LOAD PLANARITY" and filed on Nov. 13, 2006; Ser. No.
11/620,560 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE STEM WALL" and
filed on Jan. 5, 2007; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/887,696, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED
INVENTORY AND PLANNING" and filed on Feb. 1, 2007 the entire
contents of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] One foundation technique frequently used in home building is
to pour concrete directly on the building site to form a building
foundation slab. A building foundation anchors a home firmly in the
ground, working like roots to hold a house down and tie it into the
ground below. Further, the building foundation often encompasses
the entire footprint of house and thus provides support for all of
the load bearing walls of the home. It should be noted, the
building foundation can also provide support for any non-load
bearing walls.
[0003] A building foundation is generally constructed in place at
the home site. Typically, the building foundation is constructed of
poured concrete (reinforced with steel rebar or un-reinforced). The
home site is excavated and compacted using new fill. Wooden or
metal forms are then placed around the perimeter of the house,
forming the footprint of the house. Steel rebar is then placed
throughout the area encompassing the footprint of the house, if
reinforcement is needed. However, rebar is not always necessary.
After the forms and any necessary reinforcement is in place, the
appropriate amount of concrete is poured to form the building
foundation. In some cases, the reinforcing steel or rebar extends
above the slab for later tie-in to the walls of the house. Ties and
anchor bolts are wet set in the concrete so that they are
completely tied into the structure. A house can then be built on
and attached to the finished building foundation.
[0004] Building foundations formed in such a way provide a very
stable foundation which protects from damage even in rising waters,
seismic events, and high winds. However, it is desirable to improve
the efficiency of forming building foundations.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention relates to a building foundation. A
building foundation includes a molded structure being formed from a
first substance and a second substance formed within the molded
structure. The second substance displaces a predetermined volume of
the first substance and is lighter than the first substance. The
building foundation also includes a means for coupling the molded
structure to a movable building in a factory. The building
foundation is further adapted to be transported to a building
site.
[0006] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a
method of moving a preformed building and foundation. The method
includes the steps of forming a mold having at least one spacer
material therein, pouring a first substance into the mold to form a
molded structure, curing the molded structure, attaching the molded
structure to at least one preformed building, moving the attached
molded structure and the preformed building to a predetermined
building site, and installing the attached molded structure and the
preformed building on the predetermined building site.
[0007] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to
another method of moving a building. This method includes the steps
of forming a mold having at least one spacer material therein,
pouring a first substance into the mold to form a molded structure,
curing the molded structure, constructing at least one portion of a
building on the molded structure in a factory, moving the attached
molded structure and the building to a predetermined building site,
installing the attached molded structure and the building on the
predetermined building site.
[0008] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and
will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a building foundation
mold receiving concrete according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the mold of FIG. 1 with
a cured building foundation removed from the building foundation
mold.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a finished and moveable
building being attached to the cured building foundation of FIG.
2.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a
building foundation including tension cables.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4
including a partially completed stick-built structure.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4
including the completed stick-built structure.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6
supported by a transport vehicle.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention wherein the building foundation mold includes
horizontal and vertical spacer elements.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the building foundation of
FIG. 8 removed from the building foundation mold, with the
horizontal and vertical spacer elements also removed.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention wherein the building foundation includes
protruding structural elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a light weight and transportable
building foundation and a method of forming such according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The building foundation is
formed using an appropriate material. Preferably, a building
foundation mold is constructed into a desired building foundation
shape that can receive the building foundation substance (a first
substance). Spacer elements (a second substance) can be added to
the building foundation mold. The spacer elements are placed into
the mold in any suitable manner. The building foundation substance
is cured to an appropriate level. The building foundation is
removed from the mold when appropriate. A pre-built building is
attached to the building foundation before or after the building
foundation is moved and installed at a building site.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the building foundation mold is an
enclosed area formed from walls 2 and floor 4. The walls 2 and
floor 4 are each a mold section that are combined to form a mold
that is segmented. However, the walls 2 and floor 4 can be an
integrated material, thus the mold can be formed from one mold
section and not segmented. In another embodiment, the building
foundation mold includes one or more mold sections. Mold sections
can be of any suitable configuration (e.g., straight sections,
right angle corners, T-intersections, cross intersections, curved
sections, any suitable corner joint joining any suitable number of
wall portions arranged at any suitable angle) and can have any
suitable length or dimensions. However, a segmented mold is not
required, and a mold can be built in a non-modular or even
non-reusable manner.
[0021] To build a mold, a suitable mold section or sections are
selected and arranged together. The mold can have any suitable
shape or structure (e.g., a square, rectangle, circle, etc.), and
preferably at least includes the perimeter of the eventual building
that will rest upon the building foundation. However, the mold is
not required to include the perimeter of the eventual building and
can include some combination of the perimeter of the internal
and/or external walls of the building or another portion of the
building. Similarly, a building foundation mold can be constructed
from multiple molds that are selected and arranged together. The
molds can then be coupled in any desirable fashion. In one example,
a square mold can be paired with one or more rectangle molds to
form a desired building foundation; however, the selection and
arrangement can be in any desirable manner including any mold
shape.
[0022] During or after the mold construction, one or more spacer
elements 6 are set within the mold. The spacer elements offset the
volume available for the main building foundation substance. The
spacer elements are pre-formed from a material that is preferably
lighter in weight than the substance used to form the main building
foundation or from a material that has a lower density; however,
spacer elements 6 can be formed from any suitable material.
Preferably, the spacer elements are made from a lightweight polymer
(e.g., rigid foam or other suitable material) that can withstand
fluid pressure that the first substance may exert on the spacer
elements while in the mold. However, spacer elements can be formed
from other polymers (e.g., plastics or other suitable polymers),
steel, wood, gas, composites, or any other suitable alternative or
combination thereof. Additionally, depending on the type of
materials used for the spacer elements, the spacer elements can be
solid or hollow.
[0023] The spacer elements can be cylindrical columns, or any
suitable shape or structure (e.g., tubes, cubes, spheres, cones,
box, cylinder, parallelpiped, prism, pyramid, regular pyramid,
right cone, right cylinder, right prism, polyhedrons, ellipsoids,
spheroids, etc.). In one embodiment, the spacer elements are
rectangular columns. In another embodiment, the spacer elements can
be formed from hexagons. However, any suitable polyhedron, shapes
as listed above, combination of shapes, or structures can be used
to form the spacer elements.
[0024] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the spacer elements are
vertically oriented or substantially vertically oriented and extend
through or substantially through the entire building foundation.
The spacer elements can also be horizontally or substantially
horizontally oriented. Alternatively, the spacer elements can be in
a combination of vertical and horizontal orientations or in another
other suitable position or orientation. Additionally, the spacer
elements may be embedded within the building foundation such that
the spacer elements are not exposed or substantially exposed at any
surface of the building foundation. The unexposed spacer elements
can also be vertically or horizontally situated or situated in
another suitable position or orientation.
[0025] Where the spacer elements extend beyond the building
foundation in either the vertical or horizontal direction and
remain within the building foundation, the spacer elements can be
trimmed to be substantially flush with the building foundation, if
desired. Alternatively, where the space elements extend beyond the
building foundation in either the vertical or horizontal direction,
the exposed spacer elements can be left intact and serve as a
support or gripping extension when the building foundation is moved
between different locations or for any other suitable purpose or
for no purpose.
[0026] Preferably, the mold includes one or more spacer elements.
The spacer elements reduce the total amount of the building
foundation substance used to form the main building foundation.
Preferably, the quantity of spacer elements is maximized to reduce
the total weight of the building foundation. However, the number of
spacer elements is determined by the strength to weight ratio
needed for a given load characteristic. For example, if a building
foundation needs to support a specific load requirement of 300
tons, the size, quantity, and spatial orientation of the spacer
elements depends further on the known strength of the building
foundation substance. Where the building foundation substance is
unreinforced concrete, smaller and fewer spacer elements are likely
used because unreinforced concrete generally requires more concrete
and material continuity than reinforced concrete, to maintain an
equivalent strength. However, larger and greater quantities of
spacer elements can be used where the first substance is concrete
reinforced with the compositions described above. Preferably, the
volume of the spacer element is between 1% and 99% of the volume of
the lightweight building foundation substance.
[0027] In one embodiment, hexagonal spacer elements are vertically
oriented and used in such quantity that the spacer elements are
attached to each other to form one or more honeycomb layers
embedded within the concrete; however, a honeycomb layer can be
formed with any other suitably shaped, vertically oriented spacer
elements. Where the spacer elements form a honeycomb, the honeycomb
can be formed from a metal, polymer, or any other suitable material
or combination of materials. The honeycomb layer can serve to
displace large areas of the first substance such that the honeycomb
layer is sandwiched between layers of the building foundation
substance.
[0028] In another embodiment, a mold is not used to form the
building foundation. Substantially hollow spacer elements are used
to form the one or more honeycomb layers and the one or more layers
are formed into an appropriate building foundation; however, the
one or more honeycombed layers can be filled with a building
foundation substance to form a building foundation, if desired.
Alternatively, the building foundation can be substantially formed
from one or more honeycomb layers, without incorporating a building
foundation substance. However, any suitable combination of
honeycomb layers and building foundation substance can be used to
form a building foundation with or without a mold.
[0029] In one embodiment, the spacer elements are permanently fixed
into the mold. When the building foundation is cured and released
from the mold, the spacer elements remain with the mold. When the
spacer elements are left with the mold, the spacer elements can be
removed from the mold at any later time if they need to be
repaired, replaced, or exchanged for different spacer elements.
[0030] Alternatively, the spacer elements can be removable from
mold. When the spacer elements are removable from the mold, the
cured building foundation can be released from the mold and the
spacer elements substantially simultaneously or in any order
desired. In another embodiment with removable spacer elements, the
spacer elements remain in the building foundation when the building
foundation is released from the mold. In one such embodiment, the
spacer elements are nondestructively released from the cured
building foundation (i.e., the spacer elements are reusable). In
another alternative embodiment, the spacer elements are
destructively removed from the building foundation (i.e., not
reusable because they are drilled out, melted away, or destroyed in
any other suitable manner without harming the building foundation).
In yet another embodiment, the spacer elements are permanently
installed in the building foundation.
[0031] FIG. 1 also depicts a building foundation substance mixer 8
releasing the building foundation substance 10 into mold 12 to form
the building foundation; however, the substance can be positioned
in the mold in any suitable manner. Preferably, the building
foundation substance is a concrete formed from a mixture of cement
and a sand and/or gravel aggregate; however, the concrete can be
any suitable mixture including, but not limited to, those having a
lighter weight aggregate such as pumice, scoria, volcanic cinders,
tuff, diatomite, heated/processed clay, heated/processed shale,
heated/processed slate, heated/processed diatomaceous shale,
heated/processed perlite, heated/processed obsidian,
heated/processed vermiculite, or industrial cinders, polymers,
Styrofoam, plastic or ceramic beads or nuggets, blast-furnace slag
that has been specially cooled and/or mixtures including foaming
agents such as aluminum powder (which produces gas while the
concrete is still plastic) or other pocket forming materials.
Alternatively the building foundation can be manufactured from
cement or using any other suitable substance, in any other suitable
manner.
[0032] The building foundation is allowed to substantially cure
before it is removed from the building foundation mold; however,
the building foundation can be removed from the building foundation
mold at any other appropriate time. FIG. 2 illustrates a cured
building foundation 14 in accordance with one embodiment. The
building foundation mold 12 and building foundation 14 are
separated from each other. The spacer elements 6 and building
foundation mold 12 are preferably treated such that they can easily
be separated from substantially cured building foundation 14;
however, it may not be necessary to treat the spacer elements
and/or the foundation.
[0033] Holes 16 are preferably continuous or substantially
continuous from the top of building foundation 14 to the bottom of
building foundation 14; however, holes 16 do not need to be
continuous and can extend partially through or within the building
foundation. Holes 16 reduce the amount of the main building
foundation substance needed to form the building foundation.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates building foundation 14 used in accordance
with one embodiment. The building foundation 14 is coupled to a
substantially completed and movable building 18 within a factory.
The building foundation 14 and movable building 18 are securely
coupled together using any known coupling devices (e.g., bolting
the building foundation 14 to the movable building 18). Once the
building foundation 14 and movable building 18 are securely
coupled, the completed structure is moved to the final building
site for installation.
[0035] In one embodiment, a building foundation is manufactured and
then transported in any suitable manner to a building site for
placement. Preferably, the building foundation is manufactured
within an enclosed facility; however, the building foundation can
be manufactured outdoors or in any other suitable location.
Further, the building foundation is preferably manufactured at a
location which does not require transporting the building
foundation via public roadways to the building site; however, the
building foundation can be manufactured at a location for which
transporting the building foundation to the house site via public
roadways would be necessary or desirable. Further still, the
building foundation can have any suitable dimensions, including,
but not limited to: those which would provide a foundation for a
house or other structure that is too large to transport over public
roads due to legal, physical or any other limitation; those having
length and width dimensions such that the smaller of the length and
width dimensions is greater than 16 feet; and those which would
support a multiple story structure. It should be noted that a
building foundation can also be transported to a site (i.e., a
structure site) for any suitable type of structure (e.g., a
townhouse row, a commercial facility, an apartment complex, an
agricultural building, etc.) and that house or home sites are a
subset of structure sites.
[0036] FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate a building foundation and house
built in a factory. The building foundation is formed from poured
concrete at a factory in accordance with one embodiment.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, a mold is assembled from mold sections
within a factory, in accordance with the methods described above. A
plurality of spacer elements are placed within the mold in
accordance with the methods described above.
[0038] Preferably, tension cables are also placed within the mold
and are stressed after the concrete cures to provide increased
tensile strength. However, tension cables are not required and the
building foundation can be unreinforced or reinforced with any
suitable component such as rebar or a wire mesh or any combination
of suitable reinforcement components. The rebar or cable used
within the mold are often deformed or threaded steel bars. However,
fiber-reinforced polymer bars or other suitable material
combinations can be used in place of steel rebar or cable.
Additionally, the concrete can be further reinforced using fibers
of various materials. The concrete can be mixed with fibers made
from steel, glass, synthetic (nylon, polyester, and polypropylene),
natural fibers, or any other suitable fiber. Using appropriate
quantities of fibers, the concrete can achieve increased durability
from increased resistance to: plastic and drying shrinkage,
cracking, reduced crack widths, enhanced absorption, and impact
resistance.
[0039] Concrete or another suitable substance is then poured into
the mold and allowed to substantially cure. The building foundation
is then released from the mold and the tension cables are
tightened. The spacer elements remain with the mold. FIG. 4
illustrates a cured and released building foundation 100 with
spacer element holes 102 and tension cables 104.
[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates the building foundation 100 with a
partially formed, stick-built house 106. The released building
foundation 100 is preferably placed at a building station within
the factory; however, as with the embodiments described above, the
foundation 100 does not necessarily need to be positioned within a
factory and can be positioned or placed in any suitable location.
Materials to stick build the house are brought to the building
foundation 100 or vice versa. The house is built from the building
foundation upwards using wood studs 108 in a conventional
stick-built manner or any other suitable manner. Additionally, any
suitable building material can be used to frame the house (e.g.,
metal, composites, concrete).
[0041] The frame of partially stick-built house 106 depicts a first
and second floor with windows and a door. It should be appreciated
that any home or building design can be used. The partially stick
built house 106 is bolted to the building foundation using one or
more bolts and/or brackets as is necessary to secure the building
foundation and completed house together for transport from the
factory or any other suitable method. FIG. 6 illustrates the
building foundation 100 coupled to the completed home 110 within
the factory.
[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a complete home 110 connected to building
foundation 100 and prepared for transport. One or more transport
vehicles 112 are positioned near completed home or substantially
completed home 110 and building foundation 100 in the factory or
other suitable location. The completed home 110 and building
foundation 100 are lifted by crane or any other suitable
lifting/hoisting device on to transport vehicles 112. The completed
home 110 and building foundation 100 are supported on the transport
vehicles 112 by platform 114. Platform 114 comprises one or more
beams or an integrated and continuous surface capable of supporting
the combined load of the completed home 110 and building foundation
100. The transport vehicles 112 move the completed home 110 and
building foundation 100 to the home site for installation.
[0043] The transport vehicle or vehicles can be any suitable
vehicle or combination of vehicles. For example, the transport
vehicle can be a flat bed, a frame system or a plurality of dollies
capable of coupling or supporting the building in any suitable
manner. Additionally, the vehicle can be a plurality of vehicles
that couple to the building or support the building, as described
in the above mentioned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.
11/431,196; 11/559,229; and 11/620,103. As discussed therein, each
separable portion of such a transport can be positioned adjacent or
along side the building and couple thereto. Thus, lifting the
building and eliminating the need for a crane or other lifting
device. It is noted however, that any lifting device or means can
be used to position the building on to this type of transport
device or any other type of transport device.
[0044] It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the
order of some or all of the above steps (e.g., the curing, the
tightening and the releasing) can be performed in a different
order.
[0045] In another embodiment, after the building foundation is
transported to the building site, a building is built or placed on
top of the building foundation. Preferably, the building is secured
to the building foundation in any suitable manner, including those
described above for a site-built or attached house; however, the
building is not required to be secured to the building foundation.
In one embodiment, the building foundation is placed or formed on
skates which are operable to transport the building foundation
within a structure manufacturing facility or site; however, the
building foundation can be transported within the facility or site
in any suitable manner (e.g., rails, cranes, vehicles, air cushion,
dollies, reduced friction surfaces, water, etc.) or remain
stationary until being transported to the building site.
Alternatively, a building foundation can be manufactured at one
facility or site and transported to one or more other facilities or
sites at which a building that is at least partly built, is placed
upon the building foundation before the building foundation is
transported to and placed at the building site.
[0046] In an alternative embodiment, the building foundation is
moved on the skates from station to station, and at each station
one or more portions of the house or structure is built on or added
to the building foundation/house structure. However, the building
foundation is not required to be moved from station to station. The
building foundation can remain substantially in one position while
a house or other structure is placed or built upon the building
foundation. For example, a full-sized house (e.g., a non-roadable
house, a mini-mansion, houses larger than mobile homes, etc.) can
be built or assembled within the facility or brought to the
facility and attached to the building foundation. Alternatively, a
full-sized house can be built in any suitable manner (e.g., stick
building, panelized building, modular building) onto the building
foundation. Further it should be noted that alternatively, a
smaller dwelling such as a mobile home can be placed or built upon
the building foundation. It should also be noted that structures
other than houses (including but not limited to townhouse rows,
apartment buildings, commercial structures, agricultural buildings
or any other suitable structure) can be placed or build upon the
building foundation.
[0047] In one embodiment, after the building foundation and house
are coupled, the building foundation and house are transported to
the house site in any suitable manner, including, but not limited
to, those described above for transporting the building foundation.
Alternatively, transporting the building foundation and house can
include coupling a moving apparatus (e.g., one or more vehicles, a
crane, etc.) to a structure of the house or building foundation, a
protrusion from the house or building foundation, an opening into
the house or building foundation, by any of the mechanisms
described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.
11/431,196 and 11/559,229, the entire contents of both of which are
incorporated herein by reference, or any other suitable mechanism
for grasping the house as well as or instead of the building
foundation.
[0048] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a building foundation or wall that can
be formed with horizontal and vertical spacer elements, or either
horizontal or vertical spacer elements; however, it is noted that
the spacer elements do not necessarily need to be vertical and/or
horizontal and can extend at any suitable angle.
[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates a building foundation mold 200 that forms
an enclosed area using walls 203 and floor 201. Walls 203 can have
openings to allow horizontal spacer elements 204 to pass beyond the
perimeter of mold 200. One or more horizontal spacer elements 204
can be set within mold 200 and extend beyond two walls 203 of mold
200. One or more vertical spacer elements 206 can also be set
within the mold 200 and can be flush with the top and bottom of
mold 200. The vertical spacer elements 206 can be continuous
structures that are perpendicular to and placed through horizontal
spacer element 204. A building foundation substance mixer 202
provides mold 200 with a building foundation substance 205 to form
the building foundation. The building foundation is substantially
cured after the building foundation substance 205 is placed in the
mold 200.
[0050] Alternatively, the horizontal spacer elements can remain
confined within the perimeter of mold 200, or any other suitable
arrangement. The horizontal spacer elements can be formed in any
manner as described above in connection with the spacer elements.
Similarly, the horizontal spacer elements may remain with the
building foundation or be removed from the building foundation as
described above (e.g., destructively or non-destructively).
Vertical spacer elements 206 can alternatively extend beyond the
top and bottom of mold 200. Alternatively, vertical spacer elements
206 can be shorter structures that are placed on the top and
bottom, or either the top or the bottom of the horizontal spacer
elements 204, but are not continuous. In yet another embodiment,
the vertical spacer elements 206 do not intersect or do not come
into contact with horizontal spacer element 204 and are placed in
alternative or alternating locations of mold 200. The vertical
spacer elements 206 can be formed in any manner as described above
in connection with the spacer elements.
[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates a cured building foundation 208 in
accordance with one embodiment. The building foundation 208 is
removed from the building foundation mold 200. Horizontal spacer
elements 204 and vertical spacer elements 206 are also removed from
building foundation 208. The horizontal holes 210 in building
foundation 208 depict the areas previously occupied by horizontal
spacers 204. The vertical holes 212 in building foundation 208
depict the areas previously occupied by vertical spacers 206. Beams
or pegs can be inserted into any of the holes 210 or 212 (or in any
other suitable location) to facilitate moving building foundation
208 from one location to another.
[0052] FIG. 10 illustrates a cured building foundation 208 in
accordance with one embodiment. The building foundation 208 is
removed from a building foundation mold. This building foundation
208 was formed without any vertical spacer elements. However, it
should be appreciated that vertical spacer elements can be formed
within building foundation 208 as described above. Horizontal
spacer elements have been removed from building foundation 208
(either destructively or non-destructively). Protruding structures
214, 216, 218, and 220 depict beams or pegs that have been inserted
into the areas within building foundation 208 that were previously
occupied by the horizontal spacer elements. Protruding structures
214, 216 and 218, 220 can be one continuous structure.
Alternatively, protruding structures 214, 216 and 218, 220 can be
shorter structures that are not continuous. Protruding structures
214, 216, 218, and 220 can also be formed from the horizontal
spacer elements.
[0053] Additionally, building foundation 208 can function as one
section of a stem wall for a building. Stem walls tie the building
to the ground and can support the exterior and interior load and
non-load bearing walls. In one embodiment, a mold is formed as
discussed above. The mold can be designated to form one or more
stem wall sections. Once the stem walls are substantially formed,
one or more stem walls sections can be coupled together in any
suitable fashion to form at least a portion of the stem wall or the
entire stem wall. The stem wall sections can be coupled to a
building foundation in any suitable fashion. In one embodiment, the
one or more stem wall sections can be coupled to the building
foundation in a factory. Alternatively, the stem wall sections can
be coupled to the building foundation at the building site. In an
alternative embodiment, one or more stem wall sections can be used
to form a perimeter around the entire building foundation. The one
or more stem wall sections can be coupled to the building
foundation in any suitable manner. In another embodiment, a single
mold can be formed to incorporate one or more stem wall sections
and a building foundation. The resultant mold creates one or more
stem wall sections that are integral with the building foundation.
In all of the above embodiments, the stem wall can be formed in a
factory or formed on a building site. The stem wall can also be
coupled to a building foundation in a factory or at a building
site.
[0054] In one alternative embodiment, the building foundation is
formed with one or more vertical and horizontal openings. The
openings are created when the spacer elements are placed in the
mold and then removed from the cured building foundation. Beams or
pegs can be inserted through the horizontal openings to facilitate
transportation of the building foundation to the house site.
Preferably, the horizontal openings are configured such that a beam
can extend through the building foundation; however, such a
configuration is not required. The length of the horizontal
openings only need to be sufficiently long enough to support the
load of the building foundation and an attached building. In an
alternative embodiment, instead of or in addition to the horizontal
openings, one or more protruding members are formed extending
beyond one or more exterior ends of the building foundation. The
protruding member can be part of the mold and poured similar to the
rest of the building foundation. Alternatively, a beam (e.g., a
steel I beam) is positioned within the mold such that when the
building foundation is poured, a portion of the beam extends beyond
the exterior ends of the building foundation.
[0055] In another alternative embodiment, exterior face attachment
points (e.g., exterior brackets, protrusions or any other suitable
graspable structure) are attached to one or more exterior ends of
the building foundation. The exterior face attachment points can be
attached after concrete is poured into the mold or can be
positioned within the mold such that the exterior face attachment
points are formed as a continuous part of the building foundation.
The exterior face attachment point can include an embedded steel
plate to which an external bracket can be mounted or attached
(e.g., by bolting, welding or any other suitable attachment
mechanism). The external bracket can also have any suitable
configuration and is preferably operable with one or more other
attachment points to enable one or more transportation vehicles to
grasp and/or lift the building foundation.
[0056] In one embodiment, after the building foundation is formed,
it is transported to and positioned at the house site. Preferably,
one or more ground transportation devices are coupled to the
building foundation by gripping the beams or other objects (e.g.,
cables, brackets, etc.) inserted through the horizontal holes;
however, the devices can be coupled to the building foundation in
any other suitable manner, including but not limited to by
inserting pegs of the devices into the horizontal holes or by
gripping one or more protruding members or exterior attachment
points described above. It should be noted that the building
foundation is not required to be transported by a ground vehicle
and that the building foundation can be transported by an air
vehicle (e.g., a helicopter), a water vehicle (e.g., a barge) or
any other suitable vehicle (e.g., a crane, an amphibious craft,
etc.).
[0057] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described
herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes
and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its
intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and
modifications be covered by the appended claims.
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